SAMUEL F.B. MORSE and SARAH E. MORSE The two sign a 3-page, handwritten 1863 letter to their son Willy, away at school Autograph letter signed: "Yr Affectionate Father/Saml F.B. Morse" and "Your loving mother/S.E. Morse", 1 page, 4½x7½. 5 West 32nd Street, 1863 November 22. To their son Willy. Samuel F. B. Morse married his second wife, Sarah Elizabeth Griswold, in 1848. In a three-page letter, Mrs. Morse writes about family affairs, about his pet "Spottie is full of mischief. He tears many things that comes in his way." She tells him she is "going to have somethings on Christmas" wanting to know if he has "enough handkerchiefs...." Beneath his wife's signature, Morse writes, in part: "I add a few lines to your dear mother's letter. She says the truth when she says she thinks of you every day. Both you & dear Arthur are constantly in our thoughts...You must do all you can to please Mrs. Charles, Mrs. Fay and the other teachers and be diligent in your Studies...." Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872) was an American painter and inventor. read more...

THOMAS A. EDISON. Partly printed historic Manuscript DS: "T.A. Edison," and on a 5-cent Revenue Stamp bearing George Washington's likeness "TAE/Jan 17/1872", 1p, 8½x14. New York, 1872 January 17. The 24-year-old inventor sells the rights to his invention of an improvement in District and Alarm Telegraphs. Edison had been a telegraph operator. At the time of this document, Edison was immersed in devising inventions for the use and improvement of the telegraph. He had also been involved in the improvement of the stock ticker. With the $40,000 he gained from selling some of his stock ticker inventions he was able to establish his Newark, NJ laboratory. His years at Newark (1870-1876) were characterized by a number of telegraph patents and partnerships. The year of this document marked the start of a four-year period during which Edison conducted the manufacturing of telegraphic instruments for Western Union Telegraphic Co. and the Automatic Telegraph Co. He had several workshops in Newark. read more...

AUTHENTIC LEATHER COLLAR WORN BY BULLET, ROY ROGERS' "WONDER DOG"   [ROY ROGERS]. Dog Collar, unsigned. Black leather dog collar decorated with studs and red plastic "jewels", 19 inches long, one inch wide. "Roy Rogers" imprinted in capital letters in white on back. This collar, which was originally sold at an auction held at the Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum in Victorville, California, was worn by Roger's "wonder dog", Bullet. A founding member of the Western music group, Sons of the Pioneers (1934), Roy Rogers (1911-1998) broke into films as a singing cowboy the following year. Beginning in 1938, he had starring roles in dozens of Western films. From 1951-1957, Rogers, "The King of the Cowboys", and Dale Evans, "The Queen of the West", whom Rogers married in 1947, starred in The Roy Rogers Show. Their co-stars included Trigger, Roy's golden palomino, Dale's horse, Buttermilk, Pat Brady (Roy's comic sidekick) and Bullet, the Wonder Dog. Normal wear at edges. Fine condition. read more...

WALT DISNEY The business pioneer has inscribed and signed this printed illustration of Goofy. It's framed with an unsigned photo of Disney surrounded by many of his beloved animated characters Printed Illustration Inscribed and Signed: "To/ Ann/ Sincerely -/ Walt Disney". B/w, 7¼x9¼. Image of two cartoon drawings, one full-size and one of the head of "Goofy". Goofy, who became the symbol of "Everyman" in Disney cartoons, first appeared over six decades ago in "Mickey's Revue" (1932). Then a bit player, he was named Dippy Dawg until he got his "official" name for his goofy work in "Orphan's Benefit" (1934). Goofy became a star in the 1935 cartoon, "Moving Day", and his popularity resulted in his own line of Disney merchandise. Teamed with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in a number of cartoons, Goofy had his first starring role in 1939's "Goofy and Wilbur". Goofy later went on to appear in his own series of comic books (1953). read more...

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN and JAMES TRIMBLE As President of Pennsylvania (1786), the Founding Father of the United States signed this pay warrant for the Council door keeper Manuscript DS: "B Franklin Presdt." as President of Pennsylvania and "James Trimble", 1 page, 7½x4¾. Pay Warrant for Frederick Sneider "For his attendance as Door keeper to Council from the first until the twenty eighth day of February 1786 - 28 days - at 10pr - £ 14..0..0" All in the hand of Trimble who has signed next to the word "Examined". Autograph Docket signed: "J. Trimble" on verso. In full: "Frederick Sneiders/accounts/Read in Council/Febry 28th 1786/approved and an order/drawn". During the American Revolution, FREDERICK SNEIDER was in the Sixth Company of the 2nd Battalion Pennsylvania Militia. When Timothy Matlack (engrosser of the Declaration of Independence) became Secretary of the Commonwealth on March 6, 1777, JAMES TRIMBLE was appointed Deputy Secretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council. Alexander J. read more...

CHARLIE CHAPLIN, MARY PICKFORD, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS and SAMUEL GOLDWYN The famed founders of United Artists update a distribution agreement. Carbon Document Signed: "Charles Chaplin", "Mary Pickford", "Douglas Fairbanks" and "Samuel Goldwyn" in ink on last page, 3p, 8½x13, onion skin paper. Los Angeles, California, 1936 July 22. Update of a distribution agreement with Alexander Korda, defining more precisely the conditions under which United Artists or Korda could terminate the agreement. The first great screen comedian, and arguably the best of all time, CHARLIE CHAPLIN (1889-1977) was also a talented director and screenwriter. In the silent era, his many outstanding films included Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914), The Kid (1921), Gold Rush (1925) and City Lights (1931). He was less consistently successful in the talking era, the great strength of "the Little Tramp" having been physical comedy, but his noteworthy films included Modern Times (1936), The Great Dictator (1940) and Limelight (1952). read more...

HORACE SMITH and DANIEL B. WESSON Extremely rare document bearing the signatures of both of the legendary firearms manufacturers: a certification of stock in their Springfield and New London Rail Road Company, used in the transport of their weapons to the port of New York. The document, also signed by the other Directors and Officers of the Railroad, has been framed with an antique Smith and Wesson top break revolver to an overall size of 15¼x24! Document signed: "Horace Smith", "D. B. Wesson", 1 page (lightly lined), 6¾x9¼. Springfield, Massachusetts, 1874 December 8. Also signed by directors "Willis Phelps", "Horace Kibbe", "E. A. Perkins", "William Matoon", "W. L. Wilcos", "Wm Birnie", "Virgil Perkins", "Lewis H. Taylor" and by "T. M. Dewey Clerk", "Charles Marsh Treasurer". In full: "The undersigned, Directors, Clerk & Treasurer of the Springfield & New London Rail Road Company, hereby read more...

JOHN HANCOCK His handwritten March 1783 letter as Governor of Massachusetts, instructing a garrison commander to forbid a ship full of Tories to disembark, requiring them to sail instead for New York (still in British hands) Autograph Letter, unsigned, 1 page, 7¾x12. Written as Governor. Boston, Massachusetts, 1783 March 27. To William Gordon, Commander of the Garrison in Dartmouth. In full: "I have this moment received your Letter by Express, giving information of the arrival of a Flag with a Number of Persons on board who were desirous of remaining some time at Dartmouth. I have laid the state of this Flag before the Council, & in consequence of their advice you are hereby Directed upon no pretense whatever, to suffer any of the Persons or any of the Effects brought in the Flag to be Landed at Dartmouth, or in any other place, but that you give immediate Directions for the Departure of the Flag with the Persons, & their effects to New York, and that after the Receipt of this Letter you make a point of Embracing the first fair wind to put her under Sail for New York, as no circumstance can possibly induce me to Deviate from this order. I am Sir your very humble servant. read more...

ROBERT FULTON Fulton signed this document - buying 32 lots of land in the town of Jersey, New Jersey for $1,000 - in 1809. He signed it the same year that he filed his first patent for improvements in navigation by steam and one year after marrying his wife Harriet Livingston. Pieces by Fulton are rare in any form, and legal documents, like this, are doubly so. Accompanied by an unsigned engraving of Fulton based on an Alonzo Chappel portrait. Manuscript document signed "Robert Fulton". 3 pages plus docket, 7½x12¼, 2 sheets front and verso, with embossed Jersey Company seal and 1-inch square paper seal on page 3 by signatures. Nov. 3, 1809. This document was signed between Fulton and the president of the Jersey Company. Fulton agreed to buy a block of land containing 32 lots in the town of Jersey in Bergen County, New Jersey for $1,000. Fulton signed this document one year after marrying Harriet Livingston, his partner's niece, and the same year that he filed his first patent for improvements in navigation by steam. Fulton is scarce in any form and this is a fine example suitable for framing and display. Lightly toned, stained, soiled and creased. Random ink stains. Edges are torn. Pinholes in both sheets. read more...